Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-15
n.dveut,,r, with LioEs-

scribes an exceedingly fortunate day $
snort. While riding with q compaN-
ion in search OF game Tor iood, MS at
tent,on was attracted by the shout
in, of n number OF Katiirs. On galiop-
inc nm tn them there we're cries OF IA
lion, n lionl' "There! there! close IN
front of you, lying fat on theground.
Mr.. Selous' narrative proceeds Il
instantly saw him--a male non,
crouched perfectly flat, with his head
on his outstretched paws, and certain
" not more than twenty yards from
me. / was too close to feel IN
| clined to dismount, especially as
was riding q steady shooting
horse. TO rein in, turning my horse
at the same time, and to raise my
rifle was the work OF o moment. My
horse. however, would not keep per-
fectlv still; and as was trying to get
the SIGHT on to the lions nose below
the ewes, | saw him draw in his fore
legs, which had been stretched out un-
der his chest; then his whole body
ouivered. / knew what these signs
portended, and that he was on the
point of charging. Just then l fired.
and made very lucky shot, us, ow-
ing to the slight movements OF the
horse, could not get u steady one.
Seeing what was coming, just touch
ed the trigger as the sight crossed the
| lions face, and, luck being on my
side, the bullet struck him exactly
between the eyes. 1t drilled q
small hole through the 'front.'
al bone, where it struck and
blew off large piece at the back OF
the brainpan. Death OF course, was in
Simultaneous, and | at once set to
work to skin him. He was a fair sized
male in the prime of life. AS soon as
we had skinned him, Laer and lagain
started on in front, closely followed
by the Kaflirs.
1--WE had just entered the belt of
forest on the further side OF which
ran the valley where my camp was
situated, when Laer, who was some
thirty yards in front of me stopped,
and turning around, beckoned to me.
AS came near, | said: What is it,,
Laer?' PTS another lion, SIR he
answered. 'Where?' asked, dropping
the reins and working as hard as
could to unfold the skin that was
twisted round my waist, while at
the same time l sought everywhere
with my eyes in front OF me.
However, l could not make him out;
but just as | got the skin loose and
let it drop to the ground, upjumped q
lion with loud purr some fifty yards
in front OF me, and went off through
the forest as hard as he could. Luck
lily through the stems OF the trees,
there was but little underground, and
the grass was nothing like so long and
thick as in the valleys, except indeed
at the bases ofthe enormous ant-heaps
with which these forests are studded,
where the grass always grows longer
and thicker than anywhere else. AS
the lion made off, dug my spurs in
to my horses ribs, and, after a race
OF three or four hundred yards, the
lion, finding that he could not get
away from me, stopped suddenly at
one OF the large ant-heaps | have
spoken OF, faced round and stood with
glarln9 eyes and open mouth his head
held low between his shoulders, look
ing as savage as he could, growing
hoarsely, and twitching the end of his
titil from side to side. Pulling in my
horse, | tried to fire again from his
back; but he was excited by the gal
Top, or prehaps the growing of the
hon disconnected him, and he would
not stand still at all. My antagonist
looked so nasty that | scarcely liked
dismounting, as | was pretty close to
him; and when q lion is driven to bay
it is impossible to tell at what instant
he may make up his mind to charge.
dlsmounted, however. and. taking a
quick but steady sight, planted a
bullet just between his neck and
shoulder, on receiving which he reared
himself up with a loud roar and fell
over sideways, while | inwartlly said
to myself, I've got him. The hon was
lying half in and hall out of the long
grass; but on regaining the saddle |
again looked at the same spot, the
hon was gonel | felt sure had given
| $3.50 {" NOee1 cilOb, anu UilOllgnC lie
must have managed to wriggle himself
into the long grass, and might be living
there dead. Irode closer, then right
up to the grass, which stood in patch
round the base of the ant heap, but
was over six feet in height and was
very thick. | could, however neither
see nor hear anything. The sun was
now nearly if not quite down. After
q little hesitation, | decided to take
the bull by the horns. and so, dis.
mounting. walked into the grass. hold.
ing my rifle cooked and ready for &C.
ton. l soon found out that the lion
was not there, either dead or alive, and
the blood track showed where he had
gone out on the other side,
Here, again, the grass was short and
sparse, and by the dull evening light
could see a whitishl line through it that
marked the lions track, which could
not have seen by sunlight. Mounting
my horse, and followed by Laer,
went rapidly along this track. About
one hundred yards further on there
was patch OF long grass; and as soon
as neared it | walked my horse very
slowly, as fully expected to find the
wounded beast lying in it, Nor was
mistaken; foro reaching it l saw him
lying, as thought, dead, about five
yards IN front of me. He was lvina
stretched on the ground; not flat or
MS side certainly, but half on his sida